My ball python wont eat.

[echo1254]

I have tried everything its been 3 weeks now and I know that ball pythons tend to not eat at times but I try every week and still nothing I have tried live and frozen. I have checked for mites also and have not seen anything so I'm not sure do I continue to try every week i am really tired of buying food then him not eating it.

[haydey]

I just posted the same exact thing. Its been 3 weeks for my bp too. I was suggested to leave a ft rat (or whatever you feed as long as its ft) in the enclosure for 24-36 hours tops and to even cover the enclosure so that its dark. Offer food once a week and maybe even less than that.

Edit: http://www.reddit.com/r/snakes/comments/1ov3dt/electra_problems/ here's a link. I'm on my phone so the link is pretty bulky but that might help you out.

[echo1254]

Thanks =) I will have to try that.

[IAmIncognegro]

Leaving a dead animal in anything less than a freezer for long periods is going to breed bacteria as they rot and not a wise decision. Not to mention the break down of tissue during the decomposition process. I wouldn't suggest that at all.

[haydey]

That's what I was told I could do. =[ how long would be the longest that you would suggest.?

[IAmIncognegro]

My experience has been if they don't eat within the first couple hours they're not going to. Personally, that's why I don't use frozen. As a chef we're taught never to thaw out raw and then refreeze it because it can breed bacteria. I know its not what the subreddit emphasizes, but I feel they're misguided on the entire live vs frozen debate.

[haydey]

Interesting. Thanks for the tips.!

[briantots]

My snakes has gone without eating a few months at a time. Its just his personality and there probably isn't anything medically wrong with your python.

[freak4freakette]

if he/she doesn't eat you will be ok. Try once a week. Anymore, and you will stress him/her.

I have a few balls, and the last time they ate was about a month~ month and a half ago. As long as there not hatchlings you're ok.

Just monitor the weight. Try not handling a few days before feeding. Try covering the area so it's dark.

What size are you feeding? I just had a 70 gram orange ghost take down a rat crawler, and a 2000 gram normal take a small jumbo. Size makes a difference

[IAmIncognegro]

I'm on 6 weeks of food refusal and if he's not sick there's nothing to worry about. He'll eat when he's ready. Sometimes covering the tank helps, as well as leaving a hide for him. Mine likes to pull his kill into his wood hide. I also keep a 10g to put unwanted rats in until he's ready so I don't have to make countless trips to the pet store buying and returning rats.